Bardsley, 32, had taken heroin and was driving a stolen, high performance car at almost twice the speed limit when he hit Justin - and then drove off, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Tragic Justin, aged 13, of Homerton Road, Kingstanding, who was riding his mountain bike, was hurled 30 metres into the air before hitting a tree and slumping under another vehicle.

Bardsley, a father of two, of Longford Road, Kingstanding, had previously admitted causing the death of Justin by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and receiving stolen goods.

The court was told that Bardsley, of Longford Road, Kingstanding, also has 13 previous convictions for taking a vehicle without consent.

Judge John Saunders, who jailed Bardsley for eight years and banned him from the roads for ten years, told him his driving record was appalling.

"This is a tragic case. A child of 13 has lost his life unnecessarily.

"From what I have read, Justin was a very special person.

"He was talented and would, no doubt, have achieved much. His death has devastated his family and friends.

"His life was worth far more than than any sentence I can pass."

The judge said there were a number of aggravating features involved including Bardsley's appalling driving record and the fact that when he killed Justin he was on licence having been released from an earlier sentence.

Sandrea Maynard, prosecuting, said the car Bardsley was driving, an Audi A6, worth #38,000, had been stolen in a burglary seven days earlier.

On July 21, 2005, a police officer saw him at the wheel of the vehicle in Kings Road, Kingstanding, being followed by his girlfriend in another car.

Bardsley sped off and the officer lost sight of him, said Miss Maynard.

Bardsley drove into Hurlingham Road, a residential road with speed limit of 30mph, where there were about 12 children playing, the schools having broken up for the summer on that day.

A witness heard a "sliding" noise and then saw Justin's body being thrown into the air.

Miss Maynard said although Bardsley slowed down momentarily he did not stop, and then sped off.

"As a result of the accident Justin's body was thrown approximately 30 metres into the air and struck a tree on the pavement and came to rest underneath a vehicle that was parked on the road."

She said the collision was such that it had buckled the wheels of the bike he had been riding. The front wheel came off as well as the seat.

Miss Maynard said Bardsley later told his girlfriend he thought he had killed someone and that she told him to hand himself in.

An accident investigator estimated Bardsley was driving at between 45 to 54mph in the 30mph zone when he struck Justin.

Dean Kershaw, defending, said Bardsley had told a probation officer he had taken heroin, and believed his bad driving had been caused by either the effects of the drug or withdrawal symptoms.

"The community was totally rocked at the time of Justin's death and at this time all of our thoughts are with Justin's family," he added.